How does a Ouija Board work?

Halloween will soon be knocking on our front door and it's that time of the year when all the creepy and weird things become the fad of the season. It is time to bring out those ouija boards from the cupboard and channel a spirit or two.

After all what better way to get into a Halloween spirit than to usher in a few spirits into the home. Jokes aside many believe that ouija board is harmless and fun way to enjoy a good evening with friends.

What Is An Ouija Board?

The Ouija board made its first appearance in the year 1890s, a time when Americans were obsessed with spirituality, and the hippie movement was going strong. The board was flat with alphabetical letters written in two arced rows written over a straight line of a number that is written from 0-9. The board has three words written on it ‘yes,' ‘no’ and ‘goodbye.' The board comes with a tear shaped device with a little hole in the middle, this device moves all over the board, and you can read the word or the number it stops on through the hole.

(Image Courtesy: Cult of Weird)

How To Use An Ouija Board?

Use the ouija board when you are in the best of health and a positive frame of mind. Don’t use it in the state of inebriation or depression. It is a good idea to do a spiritual cleansing prior to and after the seance. First, choose a person to ask the question and then place your fingertips on the edge of the planchette and ask the other person to do the same. Warm planchette by moving it around and then ask the designated person to put forward the questions. Initially, you might not get an answer but steadily the planchette will move, and it will spell out a reply using the letters on the board.

(Image Courtesy: Fandango)

Are Ouija Board Controlled By A Spirit?

Even though the manufacturers of the ouija board claim that the game is completely harmless, many consider it to be the devil's tool. A popular publishing site conducted a survey which found the board to be dangerous and all thanks to popular movies, this view got reinforced. There are two popular theory that supports and explain how the ouija board works. One is the spiritualist theory which says that in an ouija board receive the messages that come from beyond and there is no harm in getting in touch with beings from the realm. The other is the automatism theory according to which "ideomotor response" is at play. This means that even though you don’t know whether you are moving the planchette, you actually are.

(Image Courtesy: Why So Blu?)

So, are you planning to use the ouija board this Halloween? If yes, do share your experiences using the comment box below.

Are Ouija boards Real or Fake?

Even if there are spirits living among us, I am sure a basic board manufactured in a factory in China isn't going to be their portal to enter into our world. It is just a game to scare off your friends, and a good one at that.